Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Gedi Three Luca’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by a flower that has a distinctive dark center. The plant produces a large number of flowers per stem, has a round, free-branching habit, and blooms consistently during the first two weeks of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘Gedi Three Luca’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘Gedi Three Luca’ is a product of the hybridization ofan undistributed, unnamed, and unpatented female parent Chrysanthemumplant variety and a male parent Chrysanthemum plant variety ‘95 076-02’(unpatented, undistributed seedling), which was performed in September,1999 in a controlled environment by Dirk Pieters. The new cultivar ‘GediThree Luca’ was first selected and asexually propagated in a controlledenvironment in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium, by Dirk Pieters in September,2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Gedi Three Luca’ by tissueculture and terminal cuttings was performed in Oxnard, Calif. and hasshown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Gedi Three Luca’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Gedi Three Luca’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Gedi Three Luca’ as a newand distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. The flower has a distinctive dark center.    -   2. The plant blooms consistently during the first two weeks of        September.    -   3. The plant produces a large number of flowers per stem.    -   4. The plant is free-branching, with a round plant habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Gedi Three Luca’ are similar to plants ofthe unnamed, undistributed female parent variety in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘Gedi Three Luca’have a wider diameter flower with lighter colored ray florets than theplants of the female parent variety. Additionally, the new variety ‘GediThree Luca’ is more freely branching, and is shorter than the femaleparent variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Gedi Three Luca’ are similar to plants ofthe male parent variety ‘95 076-02’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however plants of the new cultivar have darker rayflorets and a longer lasting flower than plants of the male parentvariety. Additionally, the new variety ‘Gedi Three Luca’ is taller andhas a rounder growth habit than the plants of the male parent variety‘95 076-02.’

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Gedi One Nov’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 13,796), ‘Gedi Three Luca’ has darker bronze-red rayflorets and a smaller floral diameter. Additionally, the flower of thenew variety ‘Gedi Three Luca’ has fewer ray florets than the comparablevariety ‘Gedi One Nov.’ The new variety ‘Gedi Three Luca’ also hasapproximately 10 more flowers per stem than the comparable variety ‘GediOne Nov.’

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Gedi Two Fig’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 14,403), ‘Gedi Three Luca’ has more ray florets that arealso a much darker bronze-red color. Additionally, the new variety ‘GediThree Luca’ has a larger diameter flower than does the comparablevariety ‘Gedi Two Fig.’ Further, the flower of the new variety ‘GediThree Luca’ lasts about eight days longer than the flower of thecomparable variety ‘Gedi Two Fig.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Gedi Three Luca’ grown in a 2 gallon container. Onecutting was used in the pot. The colors are as nearly true as isreasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Gedi Three Luca’ plants grown in Oxnard,Ventura County, Calif., during the month of September, 2003. The growingtemperature ranged from about 12° C. to 15° C. at night to about 12° C.to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical flowering types, and are believed to apply to plantsof the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climateelsewhere:

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘Gedi Three    Luca.’-   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.-   Height: Approximately 29.5 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 32 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 24 cm.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 18.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 140 days from a rooted    cutting.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Average length.—Approximately 6.2 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 4.9 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Palmately lobed and toothed.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1.9 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Near Green 137B. Mature foliage upper            side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green            137A.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:            Near Green 138A. Venation color under side: Near Green 138B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 2.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near Green 137B.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

BLOOM

-   Flower:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than            approximately 13.5 hours, approximately 45 days of            appropriate day length required to induce and develop            blooms.        -   Flower form.—Decorative.        -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the first two weeks            of September.        -   Number of flowers per lateral branch.—Approximately 24.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 5.1 cm.        -   Depth.—Approximately 2.9 cm.        -   Longevity on plant.—Approximately 29 days.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of ray florets per flower.—Approximately 200.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Retuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Greyed-red 178A.            Upper surface at maturity: Near Greyed-orange 171B. Upper            surface at fading: Near Greyed-orange 168C. Under surface at            first opening: Near Greyed-red 180A. Under surface at            maturity: Near Greyed-orange 171B. Under surface at fading:            Near Greyed-orange 167D.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of disc florets per disc.—Approximately 20.        -   Shape.—Cylindric.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow 7A. At maturity: Near            Yellow 4C. At fading: Near Orange 26A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3.6 cm. At            lateral end (longest): Approximately 7.1 cm.        -   Angle to stem.—Acute.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near Green 137A.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 9 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Form.—Globular.        -   Color.—Near Greyed-red 181A.-   Involucral bracts (Phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Number.—Approximately 36.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green            137A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 13A.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow 2A.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Stamens.—Absent.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—Two-branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 4C.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow-green 154D.        -   Number of stamens per floret.—5.        -   Anther shape.—Tubular.        -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 7B.        -   Pollen color.—Near Yellow 7B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low    temperature about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the    approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of    cold an amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants    are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage wherein seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Gedi ThreeLuca’ as herein illustrated and described.